On 5 Sep 1996, Eric Manshun Choi wrote:
> I am in the process of writing a science fiction story in which one of
> the characters has the ability to literally remember EVERYTHING that he
> sees or reads. For example, if he was walking down the street, he would
> remember how many cracks there were in the sidewalk, the number of cars
> that passed him, the make and color of each car, the license plates on
> the cars, how many people were in each car and what they looked like, etc.
>> How would such an ability affect his mind? Would he be able to cope, or
> would the overload of information drive him insane?
>> Any input would be much appreciated. Thank you very much!
>> --
> Eric M. Choi | Author of "From a Stone", in the
> University of Toronto | September issue of SCIENCE FICTION AGE
> Institute for Aerospace Studies | magazine. Now available at bookstores
>emc at sdr.utias.utoronto.ca | and newsstands.
>>
Unless the character in your story is constantly totally conscious of
everything he has experienced, I doubt it would affect him very much. Are
you always conscious of everything you can remember? I doubt it. On the
other hand, having to cope with more than 4-8 things consciously at one
time is a load -- which is why we make "to do" lists.